Contemporary Fiction

New in town? Check.
Risk taker? Double check.
Party at the cove with a hot guy? Triple check.

It’s my last summer before college, and my life is on the rails. Work, family drama, and a life that’s almost too much.

When I get the chance to escape… The thrill of cliff diving at the cove is perfect. Just like the hottest man I’ve ever run into. Literally. When the fire between us ignites into a night of passion, it’s best to leave it in the past where it belongs.

The moment the plus sign shows up on the stick, all my risk-taking days are over. And the father? He’s the biggest risk I could imagine. Especially when he finds out he’s about to be a daddy.

Cruel Start is an enemies-to-lovers, new adult bully romance with pregnancy and plenty of angst, and the prequel to Aspen and Phoenix’s duet Cruel Hate and Cruel Love.

This book contains mature content that some readers may find disturbing. It is not a standalone and does end in a cliffhanger that continues with Cruel Hate.

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Keeping a secret for over a decade killed me inside… until a silver fox billionaire forced me to confront it.

I was made to give up my son for adoption when I was only 16.

Seeing him years later in my office with his dad made me shiver to my core.

I loved my boy.

It was clear that Jace did too.

It broke my heart to see Christopher in pain and struggling with a medical condition that only I could help him with.

As his doctor, I had to maintain my boundaries.

And I certainly had to keep my distance from Jace.

But holding hands during those late nights at the hospital led to decisions that could ruin my medical career.

The excitement of being in Jace’s arms would have to compete with the life I’d built for myself.

This new and shaky beginning rested on one secret I could tell no one.

Especially not Jace.

Christopher was my son.

He was our son.

But did that matter if we could never, in fact, be a real family?

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First rule of a marriage of convenience?
Don’t get knocked up.

When I tell off my new boss after he cuts in line,
I think he’s about to fire me.
Instead, CEO Harry O’Donnell proposes.

He wants me to marry him and move in for six months.
See, Harry needs a wife to inherit his family business.
I need a windfall to pay for my mom’s medical bills.

How hard could playing wifey be?
Answer: very.
From Harry’s touching vows at our sham wedding,
To the sly glances he sneaks when he thinks I’m not looking,
One thing’s clear.
Our no funny business agreement won’t last long.
Neither will the ten-foot wall I built around my heart.

Now, against all odds, I’m pregnant.
And I want Harry to love me—and our baby—for real.

Rule number two?
Never, ever, fall for your temporary husband.

The Wedding Hoax is a steamy standalone with a swoony HEA! No cheating or cliffhangers. 18+.

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He calls me perfect.

His flawless pet.

His good girl.

Broken down and wounded by my emotionally neglectful ex, I wanted someone to tell me I was good enough.

Then, I stumbled into a new job with a boss who brings me to my knees—literally. He has me do things a real secretary would never do.

Emerson Grant tells me I’m more than just good enough.

I’m worthy of his praise.

There are a million reasons why I should stay away. The owner of the Salacious Players’ Club is not just my new boss, he’s twice my age.

And my ex-boyfriend’s father.

With him, I am treasured. I am adored. I am his.

I’m a good girl, but I’m falling for the wrong man.

Emerson Grant knows what he wants—

And he wants me.

So how far will I go to hear his approval?

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DON’T MISS THE STUNNING AND ROMANTIC NEW NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR VERONICA HENRY – PRE-ORDER THE SECRET BEACH NOW!

Escape to the country this Christmas in this delightful festive read from bestselling author Veronica Henry.

‘As fruity as a mince pie’ SUNDAY EXPRESS

Christmas is coming to Honeycote House and Lucy Liddiard is busy whipping up a feast of festive treats (all with an extra dash of brandy!) for her nearest and dearest.

She knows this year’s celebrations need to be extra special – their beloved Cotswolds brewery is struggling and Lucy is sure that the secret her husband Mickey is hiding isn’t a diamond necklace in her stocking…

As the scent of cinnamon fills the air and the glamorous guests start to arrive, Lucy suspects there might be a few more secrets waiting underneath the Christmas tree…

It’s certainly going to be a holiday to remember!

Irresistibly good fun and bursting with heart, A Country Christmas is the first book in the Honeycote series, followed by A Country Life and A Country Wedding.

** This book was originally published as ‘Honeycote’ **

Your favourite authors love Veronica Henry!

‘A blissful escape’ SARAH MORGAN
‘The most uplifting getaway’ LUCY DIAMOND
‘Veronica Henry writes like a dream’ JILL MANSELL
‘Irresistibly romantic. I adored it’ PHILLIPA ASHLEY
‘A delicious, dreamy, joy of a book’ LIBBY PAGE
‘The perfect weekend read’ FANNY BLAKE

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An emotional, uplifting story about sisters, secrets, and second chances, from the author of THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS

‘I love all Lisa Jewell’s books, and this ticks all the boxes’ 5***** Reader Review
‘I loved every page’ 5***** Reader Review
‘Lisa Jewell at her best’ 5***** Reader Review
_________

Bee Beahorn had it all – a successful music career, fabulous friends, and a glamorous celebrity lifestyle.

At least, that’s what her estranged sister, Ana, had always believed.

Their lives were worlds apart. Bea was beautiful, extravagant and full of life. Ana was awkward, shy, and destined to live in Bea’s shadow.

But when Bea is found dead in her flat, Ana realises that everything she knew about her sister had been a lie.

Ana is determined to find out the truth about her sister – and she might just find herself along the way . . .
_________

‘A compelling story packed with intriguing characters’ The Times

‘A gripping read’ 5***** Reader Review

‘Written with intelligence, verve and wit . . . a triumph’ Hello

‘Beautifully written. I read it in a day’ 5***** Reader Review

‘Inventive and moving, with definite charms and a real sense of poignancy’ Sunday Times

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Single mum Blair Pendergrass guards her heart fiercely – especially against notorious playboys like her new boss, Dr Oz Manning. Heart-healer? Heartbreaker, more like! But might this beautiful nurse and her adorable little girl be the ones to turn this lovable rogue into a family man for ever…?

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It’s Christmastime on the North Yorkshire Moors!

Do you believe in fate? Livvie Weatherill does… This time last year, if anyone had told Livvie she’d have fallen in love and would be making plans for her Christmas wedding to Zander Gillespie, she would have laughed in their face. If they’d gone on to say they’d be planning to have their wedding at the imposing Danskelfe Castle, she’d have laughed even louder! But it would seem fate had plans for her…

Since moving to the pretty moorland village of Lytell Stangdale Livvie is happier than she’s ever been. She’s living with Zander and she’s working at her dream job as a wedding dress designer at Romantique with her friends, Kitty and Violet. It’s fair to say, she’s enjoying immersing herself in village life, from romantic walks in the countryside, to meeting friends at the quaint Sunne Inne. And she can’t think of anything better than rounding off the day cosying up with Zander. Life is sweet.

Her blossoming friendship with Freda Easton, the endearing but reclusive elderly lady who lives down the lane, has taken everyone by surprise. But Freda has a secret and, in a turn of events no one could predict, she finds herself grateful for Livvie’s fierce loyalty, cementing their friendship further. Just when things seem to be running smoothly, a face from the past arrives on the doorstep casting a shadow over Livvie’s wedding plans. Adding to the drama, an icy blast of Arctic air brings heavy snowfall to the village, covering the moors in a thick blanket of snow.

Is their love strong enough to withstand the challenges thrown at them? Will they get their magical Christmas wedding?

Join Livvie and Zander – and all the usual characters – for a merry countryside Christmas!

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Self-made billionaire Nathan Trainor feels restless and disillusioned. His company may be thriving, but he can’t find a woman who sees him for more than his wealth. With his love life in the red, he meets two other billionaire bachelors at the ultra-exclusive Bellwether Club. The three of them make a wager of the heart: they must find women who love them for who they are, not their money.

Savvy office temp Chloe Russell is trying to scrape together the money she needs to support her grandmother. So when a flu epidemic strikes Trainor Electronics and she’s promoted to Nathan Trainor’s assistant, she jumps at the lucrative opportunity. But then Nathan himself falls ill, and he and Chloe must work from his penthouse while he recuperates. Before long, it’s clear there’s genuine heat between them, and it’s more than just a fever spike. Will Nathan win Chloe’s heart—and the bet? Or will their differences destroy any chance for love?

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As I saw my new-born baby’s face for the first time I tried desperately to capture her face in my mind—to stamp it onto my eyelids. As she was taken from me I knew I might never see my daughter again.

38 years later…

‘You were adopted’. Three short words and Sabina’s life fractures. There would forever be a Before those words, and an After.

Pregnant with her own child, Sabina can’t understand how a mother could abandon her daughter, or why her parents have kept the past a secret.

Determined to find the woman who gave her away, what she discovers will change everything, not just for Sabina, but for the women who have loved her all these years.

From the bestselling author of Me Without You comes another touching, beautifully told story about the pain of separation and the enduring strength of love.

Find out what readers are saying about The Secret Daughter

‘I adored this novel. Absolutely, 100% adored it. Kelly Rimmer is a beautiful writer … The Secret Daughter packed such an emotional, powerful punch, one that I don’t think I’ve felt before that I’ll always associate with her novels from now on.’ Becca’s Books

‘Kelly Rimmer did an amazing job of telling such a heartbreaking tale. This story had me laughing, crying and hugging my daughter a wee tighter. I loved this story!’ Steph and Chris Book Reviews

‘This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster from the first words… The Secret Daughter is a story that will stay with you long after you have finished the book.’ Ask a Bookworm

‘This was a refreshingly different read which I would put in the same vein as Diane Chamberlain but this was even better than some of Diane’s latest releases. This is no girl meets boy and falls in love read but rather a heartbreaking, beautifully written story based on true facts… I would highly recommend The Secret Daughter, a thought provoking, emotional story not to be missed.’ Shaz’s Book Blog

‘This was such a moving story, convincingly told. It is almost as though you are reading a memoir rather than a novel … a really compelling read and would definitely recommend it.’ Portobello Book Blog

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‘I loved this… Heart-warming’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was hooked… Amazing’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Stunning… Touched my heart’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautiful… I loved this’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Absolutely could not bring myself to put it down’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As she inhales the salty sea air, Charlotte glimpses the island on the horizon. Seeing it after all these years still sends a shiver down her spine. Should she be returning to this place?

When teacher Charlotte Kingston is sent to close a school on an isolated Scilly Isle, it is her first time on the island since summer holidays spent there with her grandparents. But with a newly broken heart, she’s desperate to travel as far from her life on the mainland as possible.

Not long after she arrives, two visiting children find themselves in need of a place to stay when their grandmother falls ill. When Charlotte agrees to take care of the boys, she suddenly has a reason to keep the school open a little longer. With a renewed sense of purpose, Charlotte begins to connect with the local islanders who tell her more about her family.

Intrigued, Charlotte decides to decode her grandmother’s old letters from the Second World War. They reveal a story of a forbidden love that defied the darkness of war, and of a beautiful, brave young man who would risk everything for his country, even if meant losing the woman he loved…

Just as Charlotte realises the secret will change her life forever, the children’s handsome, enigmatic stepfather, Ash, arrives to take care of them. But Charlotte doesn’t trust him – he left the boys once before, why wouldn’t he do it again? But as the tension grows between them, Charlotte feels an attraction developing, too. And although she can’t stop thinking about Ash, and his soft, full lips, she’s afraid to open her heart again.

But rereading her grandmother’s story, Charlotte realises there is courage and redemption among the pages. Is this a sign that everyone deserves a second chance, maybe even Ash? And, if she is brave enough to let him in, will she be able to put her fractured heart back together once and for all?

An absolutely beautiful, emotional and unforgettable read, perfect for fans of twisting family dramas, and for those who enjoy the novels of Debbie Macomber, Fiona Valpy and Nancy Thayer.

What readers are saying about Memories of the Cottage by the Sea:

‘WOW!!!! Clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!… Devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful… I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down… just when I thought I had run out of tears they started pouring out again. Will stay with me for a long time… An absolutely gorgeous, heartbreaking beautiful book!!!… Stunning… I LOVED it.’ Bookworm 86 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was hooked from the first page!… Amazing… If there were 6 stars available, I’d give it 6!’ @karen_loves_reading ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautiful… I loved this… I absolutely could not bring myself to put it down once I began reading.’ Pageturners ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Stunning… Touched my heart… Wonderful.’ Cindy L Spear ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Amazing… Could not stop reading this.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Gorgeous… A perfect beach read.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Fantastic.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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For one year, I belong to him…

If you told me six weeks ago, I’d be bound, on my knees, and aching for the touch of a ridiculously handsome man who completely infuriates me—I’d call you insane.
Back then, I was an innocent, struggling grad student, juggling two jobs and barely making ends meet.
The extent of my naughty side was reading 50 shades of Grey a few times.
That’s when arrogant, brooding Killian Abernathy walked into my coffee shop—and my life.
He offered me the one thing I didn’t have but desperately needed. A multi-million-dollar payday to become his wife for the next year.
There’s just one catch.
Killian’s deal comes with his terms. And he has needs.
Kinky. Dark. Depraved needs—and if I want my money, he expects me to be the one to fulfill them…

SCROLL UP AND ONE CLICK The Dom’s Deal, part one in the tantalizing dark romance trilogy, The Pleasure Wars. Now a complete series!

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USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn’s latest bauble is the charming story of a crafting queen battling a jaded divorce lawyer on a wedding reality show.

Luna Rossi is a veritable crafting genius—she can bedazzle and bead so hard her Etsy site is one of the hottest in the world. So it’s only natural that Luna would convince her brother and his husband-to-be to compete on The Wedding Game, a “do-it-yourself” TV show, for the title of Top DIY Wedding Expert.

As a jaded divorce lawyer, Alec Baxter scoffs at weddings and romance. But when his recently engaged brother begs him to participate in The Wedding Game, Alec grudgingly picks up a glue gun and prepares for some family bonding.

Both fierce competitors, Luna and Alec clash on national TV as harsh words and glitter fly with abandon. But as they bicker over color swatches and mood boards, they find themselves fighting something else: their growing mutual attraction. While Luna is torn between family loyalty and her own feelings, Alec wonders if he might have been wrong about love and marriage all along…

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The perfect comfort read, brimming with humour and heart, from bestseller Veronica Henry.

A day they’ll remember forever…

It was supposed to be the perfect country wedding: gorgeous flowers in the village church, a marquee in the garden and a few carefully chosen guests.

But bride-to-be Mandy is already clashing with her mother, the groom is already getting cold feet and suddenly a very unexpected guest has arrived in the little Cotswolds village of Honeycote!

As the champagne is poured and the church bells start to ring out, one thing’s for sure – it’s going to be a day to remember…

Irresistibly good fun and bursting with heart, A Country Life is the second book in the Honeycote series, which includes A Country Life and A Country Wedding. It can be read on its own or as part of the series.

** This book was originally published as ‘Just a Family Affair’ **

Your favourite authors love Veronica Henry!

‘A blissful escape’ SARAH MORGAN
‘The most uplifting getaway’ LUCY DIAMOND
‘Veronica Henry writes like a dream’ JILL MANSELL
‘Irresistibly romantic. I adored it’ PHILLIPA ASHLEY
‘A delicious, dreamy, joy of a book’ LIBBY PAGE
‘The perfect weekend read’ FANNY BLAKE

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My world was rocked the night I collided with a stranger.
A scarred Bratva Prince.
He left me with a taste of submission AND his baby.
Now Leo’s back, and he vows never to let me out of his sight.

Our saga began when he came to my rescue.
And ended in a night of passion. Thrilling and intense.
I was certain I’d never see him again.

Until today…

“I’d like you to meet our institution’s most generous benefactor.”

Then a familiar Russian accent takes my breath away, “Good evening, Nikita.”

My whole body freezes.

Apparently my dark prince comes from a powerful Bratva dynasty.
And the guy he’s been wanting to put underground this whole time? My father.

Will Leo change his ways when he learns I have a secret of my own?…

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She’s my brother’s girlfriend, but I met her first.

She’d be mine if only I had taken my ring off, the ring that didn’t mean anything.

I’ve tried to keep my distance, but I can’t stand it anymore.

Watching him with her is driving me crazy, so I steal my moments when I can.

Things fall apart and she leaves him. She leaves me too.

Fate brings us together and I’m now a client at the agency where she works.

Her job is to make my business a success. And to keep me happy.

I want her. She should have been mine from the beginning.

Even her new boyfriend won’t stand in my way.

Just when we thought we were happy, my brother is back.

I won’t let him near her this time.

Even if I have to risk it all for her.

** Lana falls for her boyfriend’s brother in this steamy second chance romance. An off limits, slow burn romance with spicy love scenes and plenty of drama. Everything seems to keep them apart until they get their HEA! **

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“No single mom left behind, not on our watch.”
“Huh?” I stammer, caught off-guard.
“Pack your bags. Our home is your sanctuary, for as long as you need.”

First day as a maid, and I’m a floundering mess…
My Mom and babysitter ditches my kids for a date.

Could it get any worse? A resounding YES!
Enter my enigmatic twin billionaire bosses in the middle of my meltdown.

They step up and offer my kids and I a refuge.
And their two charming best friends are also ready to chip away at my defenses.

Four dreamy men rallying around a single mom, asking nothing in return? Yah right!
Maybe I can keep up this act long enough to save up and move out on my own.

But it’s hard to ignore the smoldering heat in their eyes when we’re alone…
Or how they turn into adorable piles of mush for my toddlers, completely stealing my heart.

Are happily ever afters even a thing?
Or is this tapped out single mom facing yet another serious letdown?

This is a sexy, stand-alone reverse harem romance filled with humor, danger, and generous amounts of love. It also contains blistering hot MFMMM, ménage fun times, in single and multiple partner scenes so HOT they’re bound to melt your kindle! HEA guaranteed.

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A man dies a week after re-writing his will. In it, he has left everything he owns to a woman he has known for only three weeks. As Bet investigates Peter’s past, she discovers that her ex-lover was not all that he seemed…

In a crumbling office block, another woman has a different sort of ghost to confront. Iris runs her own business but strange things keep happening. Her phone rings and there’s no one there. Somebody taps at her door. In the basement, something unpleasant is lurking…

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HARPER St. James is the type of girl who thrives on the idea of life’s simple pleasures: a half-melted ice cream cone on a summer’s day, a puppy licking sand from a baby’s face, a gentle wave that crests and breaks on the ocean’s shore.

For quite some time, Harper’s been harboring a secret crush on Nate Gunderson, fellow Coastal U student and MLB-hopeful. In order to spend more time with him this semester, she finds herself spinning a ridiculous web of lies. Her first step . . . convincing her sports med professor that she’s been dating a football player. After all, if she’s romantically involved, it simply wouldn’t be right for her to keep an internship with their team.

Unfortunately for Harper, this silly, frantic excuse to switch assignments quickly snowballs into an unstoppable rumor.

LUCA Reynolds is the type of guy who prefers to set low expectations, both for himself and others, if only to avoid any inevitable disappointment. His football teammates would describe him as reserved, brooding, and occasionally stand-offish.

The truth? Luca doesn’t feel like he belongs.

When an unexpected injury threatens to destroy Luca’s long-term plans, he finds himself in need of help from a discreet professional—one who will assess his knee, provide some simple stretches, and assure him that everything’s fine. Luckily, there’s a scheming student intern that just might owe him a favor or two.

A secret for a secret. A lie for a lie. It’s not really blackmail if she’s the one who used him first.

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It’s 1951. Reno is the little city in Nevada where people go to get divorced. Meet handsome Army vet Philip Melford, who makes a good living keeping wealthy but lonely divorce-seekers entertained. Then he falls for lovely college instructor Evelyn Demars, who wants to divorce him from his work and make him rethink his life. Or should he make a play for movie star Rita Hayworth in town for six weeks for the usual reason? Or that other visiting star Ida Lupino? While working all this out, our hero must dodge irate husbands out for his blood. It’s a wild and dangerous ride from the master of laugh-filled suspense C.D. Payne.

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I was at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong men. Men who are not what they seem. But neither am I.

Scarred, isolated, and practically alone–that was my life before attending Darlington Founders University.

I spent my days in the shadows, fading into the background and hiding the person I was ten years ago. A broken, damaged girl I didn’t want to remember.

My life changed when I met them. Three men who altered everything. I witnessed something I shouldn’t have, and now I’m suddenly the object of their obsession. Tristan Amato, Hendrix Knight, and Constantine Ferreira. Wealthy playboys hellbent on claiming me for their own.

When I’m thrust into their lives and given no choice but to live with them for my protection, I realize there is a lot more to these dangerous, enigmatic men than meets the eye. As the past and the present collide, dark truths are revealed and whispers of a secret society start to surface. I’m forced to face the very things I suppressed all those years ago and question everything I know about who I am, who I can trust… and something much worse…

Am I falling in love with the enemy?

Beautiful Sin is a full-length new adult romance with dark themes and damaged anti-heroes. It is book one in the Beautiful Sin series and ends in a cliffhanger. Recommended for mature readers. Please check Reader’s Note in the front matter of the book for potential TWs.

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#1 Amazon bestseller!

The hellgate is opening and magic is coming back. We’re not ready.

I don’t want to be a witch. Magic means trouble, every time. I just want to be a regular, mundane professor.

But then that freaky cat shows up, and now magic is bursting out all over campus. Roses are on a murderous rampage, the library is throwing books at me, and the students are having orgies under the willow tree (well, that might not be due to magic).

I need to close the hellgate that’s spewing wild magic all over the university before it triggers the magical apocalypse. And I need to do it fast, because Satan might be coming to campus, which…wouldn’t be great.

But I’m a little distracted – okay, a lot distracted – by the new English professor, the one who watches me like he knows something about me. Something I don’t know.

See what I mean? Magic means trouble.

If you like Debbie Cassidy and KF Breene, then you’ll love this slow-burn paranormal fantasy with smart characters, a little bit of steam, and a lot of chaos. College will never be the same again.

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An attractive farm girl wants to escape the farm and takes a job in a local manufacturing plant. She finds she hates her new job almost as badly as working on the farm, but a friend offers her a way to get a new position in the factory. To do as her friend ask means compromising her morals, but hey, some things are worth it to get ahead.

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